Dispensing device



Aug. 18, 1959 F. w. LUTZ 2,900,116

DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Feb. 28, 1958 Z INETQR FQEoe'P/cK M 4012 1 Patented.Aug..18,.1959.

DISPENSING DEVICE Frederick W. Lutz, Garden City, N.Y'., assignor to Leegrfonlics, Inc.,. Brooklyn, N.Y., a corporation of New ApplicationFebruary 28, 1958, Serial'No. 718,334

8 Clai ns. (Cl. 222-477) This invention pertains to liquid dispensingzdevices'and more particularly to a liquid dispenser having valve means for permitting a predetermined amount of liquid to. bedispensed from the container.

While'the present device is a liquid dispenser which has a particular application in dispensing liquids such as soaps, hand lotions, polishes, various oils,.detergents' and the; like, it isto be understood that the dispenser maybe employed for any" suitable. liquid;

It is an object of the present invention to. provide a liquid dispenser employing novel valve means.

It is another object of the" invention to provide a liquid dispenser employing: novel mechanical valve means for dispensing a predetermined amount of liquid from. the" container by inverting; same, the amount of liquid dis-' pensed being afunction of-timedetermined by the characteristics of the valve means.

A further object of the invention is to provide a liquid dispenser having. mechanical valve closuredelay means by utilizing a closure which must travel from a rest position to a closed position by way of a sinuous guide path for the closure.

A further object of the invention is to provide: a novel mechanical valve closure delay means for a dispenser comprising a closure carrier defining a substantially sinuous path to guide the'closure. therealong from: a rmt position: to a position where the. closure engages outlet means for the liquid to' prevent the liquid: from: being dispensed.

Further and other objects. may be and may become apparent. from: a perusal of the following specification considered in conjunction with the attached drawings.

While certain representative views of a preferred embodiment are presented herein, it is to be. understood: that various changes and modifications may be made in:

the device without departing from the spirit of the ap pended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of one form of the invention showing the valve closure delay means inserted in a container having liquid therein;

Fig. 2 is apartial. sectional. view of Fig. 1 in inverted position showing the closure delay means with a disc type closure in various representative positions as it moves downwardly toward the spout of the dispenser;

. Fig. 3' is a sectional view takensubstantially along line 3--3 of Fig. 2, showing the rod type closure carrier in relation to the closure mount portion of the closure carrier and a web to permit the liquid to pass therethrough as it is dispensed from the container;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view showing a portion of the disc type closure of Fig. 2, as one form of the outlet means wherein an annular knife edge is in engagement with the closure;

Fig. 5 is a modification of the closure of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 1 but showing another embodiment of valve fitting constructed in accordance with this invention.

Referring 'to the drawings, and more particularly to 24 extends through the opening of the annular cap 26 a and has a cap 30 with an inclined internal annularsur face engaging a complemental inclined annular surface 34 of the spout to retain the cap on the spout in closed position. The spout has a flange 36, formed on-its lower end, which is of substantially thesame dimensions as.- fiange 38 formed on the upper endof the closure carrier mount 22.

By observing Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 in conjunction with Fig. 1 it will be seen that aweb,40 has spaces 42 between the fingers 39 of the web40 which fingersare securedto the inner surface-of the disc closure carrier mount portion 22. The'web holds the closure carrier 44 infixed position relative to the closure carriermount 22.-

On' the upper end of the closure carrier 44 in Fig; 2, there is aclosure limit means 46which is actually a bent portion of the upper terminal end of the closure carrier.. The closure limit means 46 merges with oris part of a substantially straight portion. 48 of the closure carrier which merges with the elongated element which is of the rod-type or wire type, and bent'in sinusoidal form. The lower terminal end of the elongated rod-like closure carrier' 44 hasasubstantially straight portion 51 immediately adjacent and in engagement with theweb 40. The straight terminal portion 48 and the straight terminal portion 51 have particular functionsin that the straight portion 48 permits the disc closure 50 of which there is one on each closm'eca-nier 44, to travel freely from the rest position (Fig. 1) shown at52- (Fig. 2.) toapproximately the bend point 53 before the disc closure 50'is detflected to-tr-avel overthe' sinusoidal path delineatedby the sine wave or undulating shape of the disc-carrier 44.

In valve closed position 55, the disc closure Bil-engages. the knife-edge of the disc closure carrier mount-portion. 22 since said mount 22 has the annular inclined surface 56 (see Fig. 4) which engages the disc closure 50 to'pro-- vide substantially the minimum surface engagement between the carrier mount 22' and the closure 50;-

In Fig. 5, there is shown a modification of a disc clo-- sure, indicated at 60. The disc closure 60 is undercut todefine an inner portion 62; and an annular flange 64 which engages the knife edge of a modifiedcarriermount 63.

While Figs; 4 and 5 show two modifications of engageable. surfaces of the disc closure and. the carrier mount. 22; the shoulder. 64 of the disc 60 may actuallybe an.- annular knife edge while the carrier mount may be-wide,-, proportionally. While the drawings showthe disc carrier mount por-- tion 22 having a 'fiange on one end thereof and a knife edge on the opposite end thereof, with a web'40 inserted therein, this mount may take any suitable form.

The outlet means for the-device shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 6 may be any suitable form, with or without a specific spout, and it may even be made a part of the container. The form of the outlet herein is not limited to that shown since the container itself may be unitary within the surface contour of an outlet means suitable tov permit the liquid to be poured from the container.

The closure 50 may be made of metal or plastic or any other suitable material and an aperture 65 may be formed therein of a dimension to permit controlled movement of the closure 50 on the carrier .44.

Since the aperture 65 is made larger than the diameter of the closure carrier 44, there may be some leakage through the aperture when the disc closure 50 is in a.

2,900,116 a o T f closed position. The device will function properly, however, to indicate that a measured quantity of material has been dispensed, because once the disc closure is seated the main flow of material will be stopped and only a small inconsequential dribble, if any thing, will continue.

In Fig. 6 there is illustrated another embodiment of a dispensing device fitting. In this instance the fitting is particularly adaptable for insertion in the neck of the standard plastic fitting of a container such as a soap container 100. With such container it is usual to make the pouring neck 102 of a plastic material. The pouring neck 102 is provided with an exterior annular flange 104 which is press-fitted into an annular neck recess 106 formed in the top of the container 100.

In accordance with the invention, the conventional pouring neck construction 102 is altered slightly to provide an interior annular flange 108. A metering dispensing device generally designated- 110 is then easily positioned into the pouring neck 102 to locate the device for instant use. The dispensing device 110 comprises, in this instance, an annular member 112 having pouring openings 114 radially spaced around a central hub 116. Aflixed to the central hub 116 is a closure carrier 118 having an associated disc closure 120 positioned thereon. The closure carrier 118 and the disc closure 120 are of similar construction and operation to that indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. In the closed position the disc closure 120 rests on upstanding annular knife edge portions 122 of the annular member 112. The annular member 112 is made to a diameter slightly greater than the interior diameter of the pouring neck 102 so that it must be wedged into the neck to form a liquid-tight fit with the neck 102. The structural characteristics of the closure and the closure carrier determine the time delay between the time the container is inverted until the time the closure engages the outlet means in whatever form it may be.

The straight portion 48 of the closure carrier 44 permits the closure to get a good start by falling a reasonable distance before it encounters a deflection curve in the closure carrier. The length of the relatively straight portions between the nodes of the sinusoidal carrier form, the contour of the nodes, the dimension of the hole in disc closure relative to the outside diameter of the closure carrier, and the particular fluid are all determining factors of the time delay aiforded by the closure, as well as the type and weight of the disc closure and the various lengths of the respective portions of the overall length of the carrier.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the invention may take the form of that shown in the drawings or may be varied accordingly depending on the particular fluid to be dispensed and the time delay desired between the inverting of the dispenser and the closure of the outlet means. The invention may employ any suitable closure delay means provided the closure carrier within the container has surfaces defining or delineating a substantially sinuous path or undulating path to guide the closure means therealong from a rest position to a position where the closure engages the outlet means to prevent further dispensing of the liquid when the container is inverted.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A combination container closure and measuring dis- ,4 penser comprising a perforate washer member adapted to be fitted in the mouth of a container, an elongated rodlike curved member connected to the central portion of said washer member and normally extending into said container for a considerable distance and a closure disc slidable on said rod-like member under the influence of gravity, whereby said rod-like'member defines a tortuous path for said closure disc of a predetermined extent and contour to eifeot a timed movement ofsaid disc therealong from top to bottom thereof.

2. A liquid dispenser comprising a container for the liquid to be dispensed and including liquid outlet means to permit said liquid to flow therethrough, gravity actuable closure means engageable with said outlet means to substantially restrict fiow of liquid through said outlet means when said container is in an inverted position, and closure delay means to delay said engagement of said liquid outlet means and said closure means, said closure delay means including a closure carrier disposed within said container, said closure carrier including an elongated rod-like element in sinusoidal form and a closure element positioned thereon and confined for movement therealong on said elongated element from a rest position to a position where said closure means engages said outlet means when said container is inverted.

3. A dispenser as set forth in claim 2, wherein said elongated element is fixedly disposed in said container with one end terminating adjacent said outlet means and the other end terminating a predetermined distance therefrom based on the closure timing desired.

4. A dispenser as set forth in claim 2, wherein said elongated element has a terminal portion thereof adjacent said closure means which is substantially straight whereby to permit correct alignment and rapid movement to a closing position near the end of travel of said member.

5. A dispenser as set forth in claim 2, wherein said elongated element has terminal portions on both ends which are substantially straight.

6. A dispenser as set forth in claim 2, wherein a perforate structure disposed adjacent said outlet means is connected to said elongated element to fixedly maintain said element relative to said outlet means.

7. A dispenser as set forth in claim 2, wherein said outlet means and said closure means have complemental engaging surfaces at least one of which is reduced in area to minimize surface contact therebetween.

8. A liquid dispenser comprising a container, a pouring neck fitted into the upper portion of said container, said neck having an internal ledge defined thereon, a member fitted into said neck and resting on said ledge, a closure carrier including an elongated rod connected to said member and extending into said container, a pouring opening on said member, a closure including a member loosely fitted on said rod and slidable thereon under the influence of gravity along said rod to close said pouring opening at a timed interval after said container is inverted.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,141,871 Koukal Dec. 27, 1938 2,662,336 Zalkind Dec. 15, 1953 2,745,576 Chappell May 15, 1956 -a... and. 

